on Humor
Compiled by
Andrew Tarvin,
Humor That Works
50 Quotations on Humor
Smashwords Edition
www.HumorThatWorks.com
Copyright © 2011 Humor That Works
All rights reserved.
ISBN-10: 098488971X
ISBN-13: 978-0-9848897-1-6
DEDICATION
Dedicated to everyone out there wanting to add more humor to their life. Also to my mom, dad and brothers (who are among those in the aforementioned group).
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments i
Introduction
iii
50
Quotations 1
About
the Author 101
Index,
By Author 103
Index,
By Topic 105
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
To my family for all of
their support over the years.
To Pat for his help writing and
editing.
To Nate for getting me involved in this whole comedy
thing.
To Mike for my first gig talking about humor at work.
To
the authors, for being smarter than me and saying
smart things
about humor.
And to you, the reader, for, well, reading.
“The ability to quote is a serviceable substitute for wit.”
-- Mary Pettibone Poole
INTRODUCTION
I’m a firm believer in the power of humor. Through my work with Humor That Works, I’ve seen humor transform organizations, and more importantly, individuals. It has the power to heal, create, produce, relate, and of course, add some fun.
This collection of quotations is meant to showcase how universal humor can be. Attributions go to authors, military leaders, philosophers, and former presidents; they come from people who lived in 300BC to present day; they cover topics ranging from what humor is to what humor does.
Whether you just want to see what others have to say about humor, will collect any type of quotations, or want to bolster your argument for using humor (“Look boss, even President Eisenhower saw the value of humor.”), this collection will deliver.
But that’s enough out of me. You’re not here to read what I have to say, you’re here to read 50 Quotations on Humor from 50 great minds from history.
ON HUMOR
1
“Every survival kit should include a sense of humor.”
-- Unknown
UNKNOWN
Profession – Born
Bio
Bonus Fact
2
“Humor is the only test of gravity, and gravity of humor; for a subject which will not bear raillery is suspicious, and a jest which will not bear serious examination is false wit.”
-- Aristotle
ARISTOTLE
Philosopher – b. 384 BCE
Aristotle was one
of the founders of Western philosophy, along with his teacher, Plato.
He taught Alexander the Great, and is remembered as one of the most
influential figures in scholarship throughout history.
Bonus Fact:
Aristotle may have invented the first camera.
3
“Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not; a sense of humor to console him for what he is.”
-- Francis Bacon
FRANCIS BACON
Philosopher, Scientist – b. 1561
Francis Bacon was
an English statesman who served as the Attorney General and Lord
Chancellor of England. As a scientist, he established methods of
scientific research called the Baconian method, and has been
described as the father of empiricism.
Bonus Fact:
There is a fringe theory that contends Bacon authored the plays whose authorship is usually assigned to William Shakespeare.
4
“Men's happiness and misery depends altogether as much upon their own humor as it does upon fortune.”
-- François La Rochefoucauld
FRANÇOIS LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Author – b. 1613
François La
Rochefoucauld is renowned for his contributions to literature,
specifically his works: Memoirs and Maximes, in addition to his
personal letters.
Bonus Fact:
Before La Rochefoucauld's death, an early draft of his Memoirs was stolen and then printed in Holland, which strained some of his relationships when the contents of his memoir were revealed.
5
“Good humor is the health of the soul, sadness its poison.”
-- Lord Chesterfield
LORD CHESTERFIELD
Statesman – b. 1694
As a statesman,
Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield, served as a member of the
House of Commons, and would eventually become a member of the House
of Lords. During his career, he served as an ambassador to the Hague
and as Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland.
Bonus Fact:
After making an adept first speech in the House of Commons, Stanhope was informed that, as he was not yet at the age of majority, he was not allowed to speak in the House, and could be subjected to a fine of £500.
6
“Good humor is one of the preservatives of our peace and tranquility.”
-- Thomas Jefferson
THOMAS JEFFERSON
President of the US, Founding Father – b. 1743
As a governor of
Virginia, primary writer of the Declaration of Independence, Vice
President, and President, Thomas Jefferson has affected the history
of the United States not only to a great degree, but also in a great
variety of ways.
Bonus Fact:
While Vice President, Jefferson wrote “A Manual of Parliamentary Practice” for the Senate; it is still used by the House of Representatives today.
7
“No mind is thoroughly well organized that is deficient in a sense of humor.”
-- Samuel Taylor Coleridge
SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE
Poet – b. 1773